Our penguins can do a lot of things, but flying through the air is not one of them. (Unless you count porpoising, when they burst into the air while swimming for a quick breath. Think: dolphins and porpoises.) While flying birds have hollow bones, penguins have bones that are solid and heavy and that helps them dive underwater. Also their wings are smaller compared to birds of flight. This reduces drag when the penguins are swimming underwater.

An African penguin dives into the water.

But penguins swimming underwater certainly look as if they’re flying! Watch this video as the penguins flap their wings propelling themselves through the water, and find out how they maneuver so well.